FORMAL SCHOOLING

Our goal is to stop vulnerable children from becoming street children by putting them in school at a young age, ideally Kindergarten. Studies have shown that children who start education at a very young age are most likely to go all the way to college if financially able. Poor children who have left school but are still young enough to catch up with their peers are re-enrolled in the public school system. Public education in the Philippines is free but children are expected to pay for their school materials, projects, and uniforms. We finance these and other expenses necessary for their education, including food and transportation. We support these children until they have completed their college education or technical/vocational training.

Monitoring the children’s school attendance and academic performance is crucial to the success of the program. To ensure the success of the Education Program, ACAP engages volunteer child welfare monitors (VCWM) in each community to monitor the children’s school attendance. Absences, bad behavior, and poor grades are immediately reported by the VCWM and addressed by the Social Worker or the Education Assistance Program Officer.

For children who are slow in reading and math, we hold tutorial sessions for Them in their communities once a week.

Alternative Learning System

Children who are too old to return to formal education – referred to as out-of-school youth (OSY) – can join the government’s Alternative Learning System (ALS). This is a community-based, modular education system consisting of a Basic Literacy Program and a Continuing Education Accreditation Program. We support OSYs if they want to attend the ALS. Our support includes transportation and food allowance for the days they attend ALS. When they pass the High School Accreditation Test, they can proceed to further vocational education or special skills training. You can learn more about the ALS here.

COMMUNITY-BASED VISUAL AND PERFORMING ART

We use visual and performing art as vehicles to develop the children’s self-efficacy and self-worth. Only by valuing themselves can children start to become productive, self-respecting members of society. Art also offers a safe space for self-expression and creative exploration, which can help to heal trauma.

We go to communities where ultra-poor families live and with the help of Barangay Officers identify the families whose incomes fall below the minimum wage. The children of such families typically help their parents put food on the table by working on the streets, and they are most likely to drop out of school. We invite the young children to join the Art Program which is held in the community once a week. When the children have found their self worth, they express their desire to go to school. The visual art program serves as a way of preparing them to start or return to school.

The performing art program targets the out of school youth (OSY). These children would have typically dropped out of school at a young age and worked on the streets since. With the help of Barangay Officers, we identify the most vulnerable and invite them to join the program. To compensate for their loss of income for the day, we give them food packs at the end of each session. During the 6-month program, we talk to them about the chance of obtaining education through ALS. The program culminates with them showcasing their performance to the community, and with interested OSYs joining ACAP’s ALS education program. We provide for everything they need to attend the government school’s ALS program.

ART-BASED VALUES FORMATION

Children who have grown up on the streets are typically neglected and often lack the basic social skills necessary to attend and succeed at school. As part of a holistic program to reintegrate these children into society, it is necessary to impart on them good values and proper behavior. Through our Values Formation Program – which is integrated into the visual and performance art activities – we teach the children the value of honesty, trust, cooperation, collaboration, respect, personal hygiene, and more.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

To keep the children off the streets during the summer breaks from school, we organize a variety of activities for them. These activities include volleyball, basketball and futsal, which in addition to providing physical exercise also promote teamwork, cooperation, and good sportsmanship.

We also organize cultural outings to art and history museums around Manila, as well as to the Manila zoo. We also organize performance art workshops, which are hosted by volunteers and local artists. The frequency of these is dependent on the availability of funding and volunteers.

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

In the Philippines, a staggering 31% of children experience stunted growth. This is the result of malnutrition and recurring infections in utero or in early childhood. Stunting has many negative health impacts, not least of which is reduced cognitive capacity. This impacts educational performance in childhood, which correlates strongly to low adult wages and lost productivity. This is why a robust Health Program is crucial to our work.

We give our children weekly food packs containing rice, mongo beans, fresh eggs, milk, and vegetables. These food packs give each child’s household two to three days of food security and help reduce their overall food expenses. We also give our EAP beneficiaries multivitamins to supplement their micronutrient deficiencies, focusing on the youngest ones and the young expectant mothers who are also in our care.

Health and Dental Program

When a new child joins ACAP, we take a baseline measurement of their general health. The children get a general health check-up at the start of each school year, allowing us to track their health over time. They also receive medical treatment as needed over the course of the year, and get regular dental check-ups and treatment.

Health and NUTRITION EDUCATION

We provide health and dental education to our children and their parents with the help of local health practitioners. These educational sessions provide parents with a deeper understanding of health and nutrition as they impact their children’s development. Topics include reproductive health, parenting, adolescent sexuality and relationships, mental health, and food safety and preparation.

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

We believe that children's development is interdependent with the health and resilience of their community. We facilitate community workshops and awareness programs themed around education, family planning and civic-mindedness. Our goal is to empower community members to organize themselves to support their children and uplift themselves.

Our volunteer child welfare monitors (VCWM) play an instrumental role in our mission, acting as the frontline defenders of children’s rights and ensuring that these rights are respected and upheld in their respective communities. To fulfil these duties effectively, it is crucial that they continually improve their skills and knowledge.

In 2024, we offered leadership training to our VCWM. The training explored the various responsibilities associated with leadership, examined different leadership styles, outlined the primary duties of a leader, and encouraged participants to reflect on their own roles. Through this holistic approach, the session aimed to equip volunteers with the leadership skills needed to continue making a positive impact in their communities. We ran the training in partnership with UGAT Foundation, which specializes in psychological interventions and family systemic approaches. A total of 19 dedicated volunteers attended this session.

youth leadership training

We facilitate capacity-building activities for the children and young adults in our programs. These activities help improve their self-esteem, community involvement, and their competence as future leaders.

In 2024, we organized the inaugural Training of Trainers on Child Leadership. The training was facilitated by Edgar L. Mobilla, a Registered Social Worker and Planning Officer on the Council for the Welfare of Children. The training focused on essential leadership qualities, emphasizing the ability to articulate visionary goals, motivate others, and foster cohesive teamwork. It covered various leadership styles and strategies, and the crucial role of trust, communication, and team-building in effective leadership.

The training was attended by 32 young adults from our programs. By empowering these emerging leaders, ACAP aims to catalyze positive change, advocating for children’s rights and welfare at the grassroots level. The training not only enhances individual capacities but also fortifies community resilience and leadership infrastructure.

partnerships and network-building

To sustain our initiatives, we seek the support of like-minded organizations to promote our programs and advocacies. We build partnerships with existing non-government organizations and local government agencies in the community. Our aim is to form groups or community organizations that will continue to manage activities and programs not only for children but also for other disadvantaged and neglected sectors in the community. See which organizations we partner with.